Michigan Bluegrass Band Joins Wide Open Lineup

Greensky Bluegrass is one of more than 50 bands coming to Raleigh this week for the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival. The Michigan group’s hybrid sound draws on the influence of rock ‘n roll and jam bands. The multidimensionality of their music gives them a mainstream music fan base beyond the bluegrass scene. Greensky Bluegrass is Dave Bruzza, Anders Beck, Mike Devol, Mike Bont, and Paul Hoffman.

Host Frank Stasio talks with the band live from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and we hear a preview for their performance at the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival.

Related Content

In the winter of 2007, five Haywood county bluegrass musicians got together for an informal jam session. Out of that collaboration, the band Balsam Range was born. They are nominated in six different categories for the International Bluegrass Music Awards including Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year. They will play at Merlefest showcase as part of the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh this afternoon and the Awards show this evening.

The World of Bluegrass festival is in its last few days in Raleigh. Music journalist Craig Havighurst is back one last time to talk about the event. He's a triangle native who now hosts a music roots show from Nashville. He's also a board member of the International Bluegrass Music Association, the group that puts on the festival every year.

Last night a few hours after the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences had closed for the evening, a series of banjos, fiddles and mandolins paraded past the smiling security officers into an area set aside as a sort of "green room." Musicians from the World of Bluegrass festival put on by the IBMA dropped by WUNC's newly opened studios in the museum for an evening of pickin' and singin'.

WUNC's Eric Hodge talks with music journalist Craig Havighurst about the World of Bluegrass festival in Raleigh.

The World of Bluegrass event is underway in Raleigh. It's the first year the five-day convention has come to the Triangle after having a home in Nashville for eight years, and it's a place for musicians, agents and music lovers to hear the best of Bluegrass every year.

WUNC's Eric Hodge talks with music journalist Craig Havighurst about Thursday's lineup at the World of Bluegrass.

Raleigh is in the middle of the World of Bluegrass festival. Craig Havighurst returns to talk with WUNC's Eric Hodge about the event. Havighurst is a music journalist who has contributed to NPR and the Wall Street Jounral. He produces a music roots show in Nashville and is a Triangle native. He's also a board member of the International Bluegrass Music Association, which puts on the festival.